Liebe TCGIS Gemeinschaft / Dear TCGIS Community, 

As our Spendenwoche, or Week of Giving, comes to a close I am reminded of one of the many things that make this community so special. TCGIS families' commitment to our school is truly einzigartig/unique. That is clearly evident in the fact that our community has already raised $25,535, and almost $10,000 this last week alone! Your generosity directly impacts our students and their teachers. Your gifts empower our supportive team of interns, sustain our incredible German library, and continue the development of our innovative curriculum–all of which makes our school einzigartig! 

Danke, TCGIS Gemeinschaft. Thank you, TCGIS community. Happy Give To the Max Day, and Happy Thanksgiving.  

Elizabeth Zehnpfennig, Principal

Message from Executive Director Karen Klinzing

Dear TCGIS community,

Your giving sparks creativity and curiosity at TCGIS. Whether your donation is of service or financial gifts, small or large, our school has experienced great success due to these investments. Thank you for giving to our school community during this week of giving!

Exciting - and generous - news from the TCGIS Board!

We are thrilled to announce that the TCGIS Board of Directors will be making a collective gift of $9,000 to the TCGIS Annual Fund in support of our Spendenwoche / Week of Giving efforts! 

BUT, there is one important detail they wanted us to share:

The Board’s gift won’t be “unlocked” until we reach $32,500 raised.

Every board member contributed to this challenge gift, so let’s join them in their generosity and support our TCGIS Annual Fund TODAY! 

One more day for coin drive donations!

Tomorrow is the last day that we will be collecting donations for the TCGIS Coin Drive, Münzen Matter. Coins collected during the drive, November 6th - 17th, will support the TCGIS Annual Fund. 

Reminder: No school next week!

Monday: PD Day and & Evening Parent Conferences

Tuesday: Daytime Parent Conferences

Wednesday - Friday: Thanksgiving Break, No School

Parent Teacher Conferences Are Next Week!

Monday, November 20th, 4pm-7:30pm: all meetings will be offered in-person OR virtual (Elementary, Middle School, Special Education)

Tuesday, November 21st, 8:10am-3:30pm: all meetings will be offered in-person OR virtual (Elementary, Middle School, Special Education)

Click here for more information.

December '23 Lunch/Breakfast/Milk Order Window: Closes this Sunday, November 19th at 10:00 p.m.

Remember to place your orders for December 2023! Please log on to our online store website Boonli to place your child's School Lunch/Breakfast and Milk order. Please make sure to check out your cart to successfully place an order and to check your order for completeness. All orders must be submitted by 10pm on Sunday, November 19th. Orders received after the 19th will have a one-week delayed start date. 



Please remember that December 20th (last day before Winter Break) will be an Early Release Day (school ends at 12:45pm) and we will only serve Cold Sandwiches (regular and vegetarian) for lunch.

December Kinderclub Registration closes tomorrow

Kinderclub Regsitration for December closes tomorrow, December 17th. Make sure to log in and book if you need care in December.

Will you have a NEW student at TCGIS in 2024-2025?

Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open! If you have a NEW student who will attend TCGIS in the 2024-2025 school year, please submit an application for admission online or by mailing a paper application. The enrollment window is open until the deadline on February 23, 2024. Siblings of currently-attending TCGIS students receive sibling preference for enrollment; for more information about TCGIS' enrollment process, please visit our enrollment webpage. Please direct any questions to enrollment@tcgis.org. Currently-enrolled students do not need to reapply.

Code the Gap - STEM enrichment Class offered at TCGIS!

TCGIS is proud to partner with Code the Gap this Spring, offering a STEM enrichment class to all students! Learn more about them on their web page.

Classes will be 1hour/week for 12 weeks during Spring Semester (end of Jan/beginning of February - beginning of May).

Everybody is welcome/encouraged to sign up. It will be planned as a regular Enrichment Class and sign up will be through the School Store on IC. Scholarships are available, making sure every interested student can attend! 

Please fill out this short survey to help us plan better! Thank you! You can reach out to Michaela Bromenschenkel with any questions.

Coat Drive: Success!

Our TCGIS Coat and Hygiene Drive was a success! We collected over 100 hygiene items, and about 80 pounds worth of winter wear to donate to Joseph's Coat. Gut gemacht, TCGIS!

Your Child's Name in the Yearbook

Picture Day is done and our Yearbook Team will work on the portrait pages of our yearbook soon. If you would like to have a different name printed than your child’s birth name, then please fill out this form by December 20th.

Haven’t ordered a yearbook yet? Order one here!

Want to include a grad ad for your 8th-grade student? Create one here!

PTO feeds the Teachers!

Conferences are coming up next week and we always order Pizza Luce pizzas and salads for Monday night so the Teachers who worked all day and stay all night for conferences are fed and taken care of. 

If you would like to donate to help out, we'd love it! Donate here! Any leftover money will go towards the big Winter luncheon we will cater for the next half day - 12/20. Thank you for helping us take care of our amazing staff!

Apply to Host an Intern by Sunday, Dec. 10

We are seeking 6 host families for interns who will join TCGIS in February!

• Apply to host an intern by Dec. 10.
• Visit tcgis.org/host-an-intern for more info.
• Have questions not answered on our FAQ? Email Katharina Schirg
• Meet the spring interns here.

Capstone Fundraiser: Wine Tasting (21+)

TCGIS 8th Grade Capstone is hosting a wine-tasting fundraiser! Parents, caregivers, friends (ages 21+) of TCGIS are invited!

December 2nd 7pm - 9:30pm

40 Barton Street SE, Minneapolis

Tickets: $75

Space is limited, get your tickets early!

Support TCGIS Families this Holiday Season

The Holiday Season can be difficult for many families. One difficulty can be the financial abilities to get gifts and food for the family to have a celebration. This year we want to reach out to 5 families within our TCGIS school community and help to make this Holiday a joyful time for everyone. We will accept and distribute 15 $30 gift cards from Target or Walmart for the children and 5 $100 gift cards for the parent so they can get food. Please drop your card off in the front office in an envelope named as "TCGIS Holiday Joy sharing" until December 16. Thank you for contributing to sharing Holiday Joy. 

Do you have an interesting hobby? Teach an enrichment class!

It is time for another round of Enrichment Classes! We are looking for instructors to lead activities in the Winter session (January 8th-March 15th).

Enrichment classes meet for an hour weekly during the session after school (3:30-4:30), except on no-school/early release days. Classes can be anything from arts and crafts, playing a sport, dancing, etc.

To lead an Enrichment Class, please fill out this form and submit it no later than December 19th. Click here to learn more about this PAID opportunity! If you have any questions before committing, reach out to Andrew Mangan.

Festival of Cultures: Interest Survey

The Diversity & Belonging Committee is planning a Festival of Cultures to celebrate the diversity of our school by sharing our unique cultures through music, art, storytelling, dance, food, and community. The date and time for this event is Thursday, February 8, 2024, 5 pm-7 pm. 

Please fill out this short Google Form in order for the planning committee to find out what cultures are represented in the TCGIS community and who would like to share their culture at the event. Volunteers may be parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, grandparents or friends! Thank you for your consideration! If you have any questions, please email keberhard@tcgis.org

OT Requesting Noise Cancelling Headphones

Looking for donations to support an increase in student need for noise-cancelling headphones! Noise-cancelling headphones can help students maintain their focus and concentration by providing a quieter environment. The traditional classroom setting can be a challenging environment for some students who may be more sensitive to noise and other external stimuli. Please go to the Amazon Wish List to help. Danke! Thank you! - Natalie Voxland, Occupational Therapist 

Parent Social & Orientation Night Recap

Parent council is pleased to report that our first Parent Social & Orientation Night, held Mon., Nov 6, was a great success! With over 50 members of the TCGIS community in attendance, we enjoyed delicious food, each other's company, and lots of information about the state of our school and ways families can become involved and be supported at our school. Thank you to all who presented and participated. Please check out the slideshow here! For those who attended: please fill out this simple survey to help us improve this event for next year!

Note: If you don't see the calendar at the end of your Rundbrief, the message has been clipped and you must click "View entire message" to read the entire Rundbrief. Danke!

Volunteer for less than 5 minutes! Have an impact for years to come.

The Communications team is creating marketing materials by recording short parent statements on what they love about TCGIS. These video clips will be used to create marketing videos to recruit prospective families. To hear current families talk about what they love about their school is most impactful when making enrollment decisions.

WHAT: 3 minute video interview with Paige Yurczyk

WHEN: Anytime between 8-4 PM M-F next week

WHY: Have a BIG impact on TCGIS success! Recruiting students means more funding for our school, which means more opportunities for your students.

HOW: Please email Paige Yurczyk if you would like to help! 

The board approved a date change for the November meeting. It will be held on Wednesday November 29, 2023 at 6:30pm on Zoom.

Cmte of the Whole: Thur., Nov. 16 - 6:30PM; Room 310

Communication Meeting: Tues., Nov. 21 - 4PM; Zoom

Board Meeting: Wed., Nov. 29 - 6:30PM; Room 100 or Zoom

Finance Meeting: Tues., Dec. 5, 6:30PM; Zoom

Governance Meeting: Mon., Dec. 11 - 4:30PM; Google Meet

Fundraising Meeting: Wed., Dec. 14, Room 99/Google Meet

Saturday, December 9 | 1–3 PM

Spend an hour baking Vanillekipferl, a German Christmas cookie, then learn how to make straw ornaments in this fun activity for parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or any combination of adults and children (at least 1 adult for every 3 kids, please.) For kids ages 6 and up. Includes all materials, ingredients, hot apple cider and some cookies to take home, if you don’t eat them all first! $105 members/$115 nonmembers for adult/child pair, additional children $40 each. Register at gaimn.org/calendar/basteln-kids/

Toast the season with a beer or warm up with some Glühwein (hot mulled wine), a bratwurst and pretzel, some homemade soup, or a slice of German cake. The Haus will be decorated from the Rathskeller to the ballroom, with music and seasonal goods for sale. Food and drink will be outdoors in our large heated tent. Come celebrate the traditions of a German Christmas with us!

Christmas in Germany is free, with food, beverages, and gifts items and goods for sale. Learn more at gaimn.org/christmas

The board’s Diversity & Belonging committee would like to highlight upcoming events in the Twin Cities as opportunities for intercultural engagement- one our school’s core values. Click here to learn about highlighted events!

Here for the conferences? It's a great time to check the ”Lost & Found” for items of your student. We would be happy if those are returned to their owner rather than donated. Last day to look before the next donation is: November 30th. 

Monday, November 20

• NO SCHOOL - Evening Parent Conferences

Tuesday, November 21

• NO SCHOOL - Parent Conferences

Wednesday, November 22

• NO SCHOOL - Teacher Comp Day

November 23 – 24, 2023

• NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break



TCGIS Google Calendar